Chesterfield County Museum

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The Currency of Coal Mines: Coal Mine Scrip in a Local Community and a Wider Context

Authored by Ashley Compton

A rare 19th century 50 cent token issued by the Burrows family for the coal mine store in Midlothian. The token reads “W.R. Burrows Will Pay In Goods 50 Cts At Midlothian Store.” Courtesy of the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia, Chesterfield County, VA.

As early as the 1700’s, coal was discovered in the area of Chesterfield County, Virginia (McCartney 2019). The coal from these pits supplied the fuel to the cannon factory at Westham during the Revolutionary War until the pits were destroyed by the British in 1781 (McCartney 2019). The industry prospered in the area in the 1840’s-50’s, making Midlothian one of the largest settlements in the area (McCartney 2019).

After the Civil War, production of coal fell sharply, and the business in the area was never truly successful again (McCartney 2019). The Burrows family from Albion, NY bought the bankrupt Mid-Lothian mines from public auction in 1869 (McCartney 2019). After numerous accidents, including an explosion that killed thirty-two miners, and an embezzlement scandal, the Burrows family lost control of the mine in 1882 (McCartney 2019).

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